IS IT A ‘MIRACLE’ OR ‘GOOD GOVERNANCE’ AT WORK?
This is what happens when leadership is committed to good governance
FOR the first time in the history of government bureaucracy, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) under the leadership of Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno has been dropped from the list of agencies most complained of for inefficiency and red tape as compiled by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
At a press briefing in Malacañang reported by the mainstream media last May 5, ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez did not mention the BOC as among the “most complained” agencies covering the first quarter of the year.
Topping the list, Perez disclosed, is the Land Transportation Office (LTO), a unit under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) followed by the Social Security System (SSS) for government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).
Perez said the nature of the complaints includes delays in acting on filed applications, imposing additional requirements, and violation of the Citizen’s Charter.
Completing the 15 most complained agencies ARTA documented are:
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Land Registration Authority (LRA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Department of Education (DepEd), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Meanwhile, other GOCCs that topped the “most complained” list include Pag-IBIG Fund, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Philippine Postal Corporation, Landbank of the Philippines, and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
The removal of the BOC from the list of agencies notorious for inefficiency and corruption is a major shift in public perception and opinion and came early as Commissioner Nepomuceno is only less than a year in office, having appointed to the top Customs post only last July 2025.
Thru his simple but effective governance slogan of ‘Integrity,’ ‘Accountability’ and ‘Modernization’ (I AM Customs), the Customs Chief demonstrated that genuine reform and real change is achievable even in an agency long given up as among the “most corrupt” agencies of the government.
On his assumption, Nepomuceno issued several memoranda that institutionalize the ‘No Take Policy’ and the ‘Anti-Conflict of Interest Policy’ that discourage bribery while warning of severe disciplinary action against customs officials and personnel engaging in the customs brokerage business.
He also addressed the long-standing problem of abandoned balikbayan boxes at various Customs ports that earned praises and support from the millions of OFW families; extended the accreditation of importers, exporters and customs brokers to three years; and simplify customs processes and procedures in the entire supply and logistics chains.
With the full support of President Marcos and Finance Secretary Frederick Go, Commissioner Nepomuceno also send the message that he is not beholden to any political patron by removing officials involved in smuggling and other illegal activities.
Under his firm leadership, the BOC’s ranking in the ARTA list has started to slide down from being on top 5 righg after his appointment to the 10th position by November 2025, four months later, and nowhere in the top 15 agencies by the end of March 2026.
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